Service Companion Registration & Idenification

Advocates for Disabled Americans, Veterans, Police, Firemen & Families (ADA VETs), works with members, volunteers, clients and family members, (including our own service dog!) that have service dogs. They are companions in the truest sense of the word. They are valuable family members, protectors, amazingly intuitive, sensitive, strong, loving, caring, and I could go on and on…They provide a very essential service for the disabled. They provide the actual service of guiding.

We constantly get questions about service dog certification. ADA VETs is going to be providing recognition for service dogs. However, this is not just a piece of paper, or a certificate.

Certification does not mean an individual dog is a service dog. Neither does registration or an official looking ID. There are several businesses selling fake certification, registration and IDs over the internet. All a person needs to do to get these products is pay a fee. Their dog is never tested and their disability is never verified. All the product really means is that the person was willing to pay money to get it.

How can you tell a REAL service dog if ID cards and certificates are actually meaningless? The US Department of Justice permits businesses to ask two questions:
1. Is this a service dog required because of disability?
2. What is it trained to do to mitigate the disability?

Additionally, if the animal behaves inappropriately, by disrupting business, behaving aggressively, interfering with other patrons or clients (say by sniffing them or jumping up on them), or toileting inappropriately, then it doesn’t matter whether it is a service dog because you can still exclude it on the basis of “fundamental alteration” or “direct threat.”

BE WARNED: when you see a fake certification, it is a STRONG indication that the dog is not a legitimate service dog. People with legitimate service dogs tend to be familiar with laws and know that certification is not required.

Note: Not a single service listed above tests the dogs they certify, register, or ID. They do nothing to verify the dog’s training or the owner’s disability. All that is required is that the purchaser fill out a form with the information for the certificate and where to mail it, and include payment ranging from $35 to over $200 depending on the package being purchased.

We will recognize the abilities of a service dog by providing the owner with a certificate stating that the dog is a legitimate service dog. We will provide the owner with a service dog vest and ADA VETs service dog patch. We will be charging a fee for the vest and the patch since the funds will go right back into the organization so that we can continue to provide our services most of which are free of charge.

88 comments

we have a four month old German shepherd we keep in our center, we offer services to veterans with PTSD and TBI, we all love him. we are training him with the basics, we would like to have your organization review our Badger. we were told to register him on the NSAR. I just read your page right now so please if you can contact us at 323.516.6382 Thank you
Esperanza

Sihar

Hi Esperanza,
thank you so much for contacting us. What would you like us to review. We commend your work! We also get dogs donated to us, they are rescues and we donte them to disabled families. they are not necessarily trained as service dogs, but are very therapeutic for the disabled families that we donate them to. Do you need dogs donated to your organization for trianing, we would love to help and support your efforts.

Sihar

We deeply apologize for the delay in our response to you. We have been having issues with our website. We would be glad to review your badger. You can email it to us if you wish to adaadvocates@yahoo.com
Sincerely.
Darren Dione Aquino, National Chief Advocate for Disabled

Billie

My dog was trained to alert me to siezures, however i had lost my training information and the business went out of business so i couldn’t get another copy if i wanted to. Now I am faced with people constantly wanting certification of her as a service dog, what am I to do?

Sihar

Please cantact us via email for a more detailed discussion. adaadvocates@yahoo.com
No one really has the right to request the dog’s certification papers since there is no actual certification-please go to the DOJ website and check our page on service dog information.
Sincerely,
Darren Dione Aquino
National Chief Advocate for Disabled

Kimberly

Hello,
I would like to know how to go about getting a service dog? What documentation do I need? Who do I need to provide this to in order to get a “legit” service dog? What papers should I need to have for the service dog once I do get a dog? Where can I go in Florida to obtain a service dog. Please let me know. Thank you.

Sihar

Hi,
There is really no actually certification. Please go on the DOJ website for further information. Please also see our page on service dog information. If the dog has a service dog vest and badge which can be purchased on specific websites, that is really all you need. If you would like we can certify that the dog performs the needed services and the reason you need the dog. Please be aware that a therapy dog is not a service dog. There are organizations that train only service dogs which can be found online. We can send you a badge that you can carry with you should you need it. No one has the right to ask you why you have a service dog and why you need one. If you are interested in us providing you with a letter and badge for a small donation to our organization. we would gladly do so.

Karen

My dear friend has Aspberger’s and lives in a group home that accepted her along with her labradoodle prescribed by her doctor as an emotional support dog. After a few months there they are now making her rehome the 7 yr old dog which has been with her all but 10 months of his life. She is devastated and I’m afraid the dog won’t last long without her. He is devoted to her and she to him. Last night I registered him with NSAR. I’m now devastated to find out it’s a scam and emotional support dogs aren’t recognized as service dogs! What can we do to make sure she is allowed to keep her companion? In two years she lost her father, mother and family home. She just turned 60 and her life has been turned inside out. To deprive her of her companion is cruel and inhumane. PLEASE HELP!

Sihar

Dear Karen,
I am so sorry for what your friend is going through. Your friends dog is a service dog since he is trained to do a specific task, provide emotionalalstability. Your friend is disabled and cannot function socially and emotional ally without her service dog. Your friend falls under the kneels of Autism, albeit she is high functioning. Agents protected by the ADA. Please call Autism Speaks and make a complaint. Please tell them that her dog is a service dog. Who has determined that her dog is Nkrumah a service dog and How did they render this decision? What state is the group home located in? Who is the manager? Doesn’t your friend.have a case manager and a team that meets to discuss her IHP? How. Could they allow this to happen? As a disabled individual with special needs, If she needs a service dog for her to be able to meet her goals, her service dog should be included in her plan. We will also write a letter on her behalf. Please provide us with the name of the group home, the address, the name and class tact of the individual that determined that the dog must be rehome d. Please in the meanwhile a so call the DOJ

Karen

My friend’s name is Barbara J. Siegel. She lives in a group home at 141 Burnett Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040. The house manager is the person who decided Barbara must get rid of Cosmo by July 14. Her name is Linda Press. They are insisting she is neglecting her dog and he is “sick” because of it. That is untrue. Barbara has been in my house with Cosmo the majority of the last two months. There is no way the dog is sick or neglected.

A letter ASAP would be wonderful! We don’t know what will happen if the July 14th deadline passes. We have an 11th hour foster home lined up for Cosmo and Barbara is trying to move to a more appropriate residence, but that won’t happen before July 14. In the mean time I will contact DOJ.

Thank you so much and bless you!

Karen

One more issue here: the people my friend is dealing with are not the most truthful. In addition to charging that she has neglected her dog (untrue which the veterinarian will verify in writing) they are also stating that the dog “charged” someone. Cosmo is in no way an aggressive animal. He is a big mush. I have been with him daily for months. He has been around my own young niece and nephew, my elderly mother and friends without incident. Barbara has been working with a trainer who also met with one of the house managers and continues to work with Barbara. They change their reasons constantly. First the “problem” was barking and charging…now it’s her supposed neglect. Not one of the charges is true. They just want the dog out of the house. We are trying to get Barbara out of that place and into a more appropriate environment with her companion. Thank you so much for all you do and for getting involved in this. Bobbie has no one to advocate for her. She needs and appreciates all of the support she can get.

Richard K. Darr Sr.

I would like to my dog Frickles to be certified as a service dog. Im a Heart patient –Diabete Type 2 on a Insulin Pump. I know having Freckles with me help with my Maj. Depresion also helps lowering my blood pressure and emotional and physical stress. Im also a Vet Nam Vet. Thank You

Sihar

Dear Richard,
WE respect our Veterans greatly. Thank you for your service. There really is no organization that certifies, hence, all the scams. What we can do is certify that you are disabled with a letter from your doctor. We can then certify that your companion provides a service to you. We will provide your doggie with a card with his picture which states that he is your service companion. We do not charge to certify. No one should be doing that. However, we have to charge for the artwork and development of the card. This is the only way that we can provide a free service. We charge $75.00 for the card and renewal every year for $35.00. We would need a bio of your dog. Please let us know if you need our services, we would be honored to help.

Richard K. Darr Sr.

Tinah Dempsey

I just recently registered my dog Sweet Pea as my service dog on SDCA and just recently discovered that it was a scam. I have been diagnosed with severe anxiety as well as bipolar disorder and other mental issues I care not to discuss.. She is my reason for being able to get out of the house and interact with others because she keeps me calm and alerts me to when I may be getting extremely anxious..she lays in my lap and pushes against me when she senses I am getting anxious or upset. I am currently under the care of a psychiatric doctor but without her I am stuck in my house or in my bed.she lets me be the person I once was. Please help.. What do I do??? I don’t want to be the way that I was. And I need her to be ligitiment.

Sincerely,
Tinah Dempsey

Sihar

Dear Tinah,
Where are you located? Can you send us a video of the dog? We can supply you with a letter legitimizing your dog. There is no true certification for service dogs. All I need is to see that your dog provides a service for you. I totally understand How important your companion is, I have one. My dog is not only part of the family but try she is my life line. Please email me at adaadvocates@yahoo.com and I can provide you with my personal cell. We will provide you with a registration card for you dog, the only cost you will incur will be for the ID card. This is due to the artwork. We would need your dogs information, a letter from your doctor stating that you need you dog.. Once legitimized, we will certify. Are you on Disability? You can also supply me with your number so we can talk further.
Thank you for contacting me. Looking forward to hearing back.
Sincerely,
Darren Dione Aquino, National Chief Advocate for Disabled

Steve Roberts

Two Tuttles of Four Paws, Service Dog House, and The Potty Dog House are thieves! I ordered 170 dollars of service dog vests and gear after being matched with my Service dog from Bergin University. I called repeatedly being told the shipment was on its way for delivery. After four months, I reported the order to Discover Card. Two Tuttles lied to the credit investigation. Two Tuttles stole a $170.00 dollars from a disabled American veteran. Stay away from these people and ordering from their site. It has been 8 months since the order no patches, no vests, and no return of money.

We need to ensure that Wayne and Tina Tuttle are no longer able to enrich themselves in the feeding trough of disadvantaged people.

Sihar

Thank you for this information. Very valuable. We will be blogging this information as well.This is disgraceful. Write will make Sure that this information circulates.let us know If there’s anything we can do.

Curtis

We would like to get our dog certified as a service dog for myself. But I am nervous about all those sites out there that charge outrageous amounts of money. How do I know that you arnt just another scam like those as well? I hope im not coming across as rude. Also how do I get a hold of you guys to come and certify my dog? he is trained and VERY well behaved. We already take him to all stores that allow him in them. And there are many stores in the area that know Quinn and love him so they allow him in even though they have a no dog policy.

Sihar

Hi Curtis,
You’re not being rude. I totally understand. We do not charge for certification. No one can really certify a dog. What we can do is certify that your companion is a service dog. We would need a video demonstrating his service to you. We just request that you give us a donation, which would basically be the cost of the card. The art work…. We need to renew the card every year as well. Our organization will certify that your companion provides a service to you. We would need a letter from your doctor that you need the services of a companion. This would be totally confidential. We would need a picture of your dog that we could put on the card as well. This service we provide is for members of our organization. We would have to charge $75 for the card. You’re basically paying for the type set and proof for this card. You will get a document from us that certifies that your dog is a service companion. Renewal would be $35.00 to renew annually. We also need a bio of your dog. We need this donation so that we can continue providing services for others. What state are you in?

Eric

I am messaging you because I am trying to get all the information I can for my wife. She’s trying to certify her shitzu as her emotional support dog. My wife has had depression for quite some time now and severe anxiety. She recently had an experience that now causes her PTSD. Her mental health provider feels since her shitzu keeps her calm and allows her to function outside of the house without having a breakdown, she feels it’s necessary to have her dog with her as an emotional support dog but I feel even without the proper training, he would be considered a service dog because he provides emtional stability as a service. I also understand no documention needs to be carried but I would like to deter any problems in the future with her having her dog with her at all times. I have learned that the website I considered http://www.nsarco.com was a scam and had my money refunded before it processed. Any help would be appreciated. Please email me with any advice sportfan18@gmail.com Thank you

Sihar

HI Eric,
As per the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) a service animal is defined as: Any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified.
No organization,, unless the dog was specially trained as a service dog by them, should be stating that they can “certify” your dog. We don’t certify. We provide “identifiable registration”. Basically, items that will make it easier for public entities, such as restaurants, stores, etc., to recognize that your dog is providing a service as a “service dog”.
We will provide you with a badge for your dog and the owner will become a volunteer advocate of our organization. Before, we can do this , we would need:
1. Copies of the papers of the dog,
2. A letter from a treating specialist, i.e., physician, mental health professional that the dog is needed and performs a service, that the individual is actually disabled, that the dog assists with the disability in some way, shape or form.
3. Picture ID, could be a license since we need proof of address
4. a valid email address and contact numbers
We will then certify the assistive quality of your dog.
The badge will be attached to the dog’s collar and the documentation can be carried by the owner. The owner becomes an advocate and also has a badge.The fee is considered a donation to our organization which only collects a fee on Social Security cases. We survive on contributions and donations. The fee would be tax deductible for you since it is a donation. The fee for the processing of the badges, the recognition that your dog provides a service and documentation of the disability is $250.00 a year.
Please let us know if you are interested.
Best,
Darren Dione Aquino, National Chief Advocate for Disabled

Richard

My psychiatrist gave me a document in regards to my dog being a service dog for my condition. I have been trying to get a legitimate certification ( besides my doctor’s note) to be able to travel with my service dog but I have only found different websites that offer these but it seems to me they are not trustworthy sites. In fact some are in the list you mentioned on this article as fraudulent. Do you offer these type of certification or badge to show at the airport? If so I would gladly send you a copy of the document or have my doctor contact you if needed. If not, could you suggest a legitimate site or organization?

Thanks

R.

Sihar

As per the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) a service animal is defined as: Any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified.
No organization,, unless the dog was specially trained as a service dog by them, should be stating that they can “certify” your dog. We don’t certify. We provide “identifiable registration”. Basically, items that will make it easier for public entities, such as restaurants, stores, etc., to recognize that your dog is providing a service as a “service dog”.
We will provide you with a badge for your dog and the owner will become a volunteer advocate of our organization. Before, we can do this , we would need:
1. Copies of the papers of the dog,
2. A letter from a treating specialist, i.e., physician, mental health professional that the dog is needed and performs a service, that the individual is actually disabled, that the dog assists with the disability in some way, shape or form.
3. Picture ID, could be a license since we need proof of address
4. a valid email address and contact numbers
We will then certify the assistive quality of your dog.
The badge will be attached to the dog’s collar and the documentation can be carried by the owner. The owner becomes an advocate and also has a badge.The fee is considered a donation to our organization which only collects a fee on Social Security cases. We survive on contributions and donations. The fee would be tax deductible for you since it is a donation. The fee for the processing of the badges, the recognition that your dog provides a service and documentation of the disability is $250.00 a year.
Please let us know if you are interested.
Best,
Darren Dione Aquino, National Chief Advocate for Disabled

Mikaela

I got a letter from my psychiatrist saying that I could benefit from a service dog, and so she is in training right now, but I went to one of those sites thinking it was legit, bought a vest and got id’s thinking it was real, and i really want her to be a legitimate service dog. What can i do? She is mine I got from the pound, she is a smaller chihuahua lab, and I am training her to wake me up in the morning, alert me to take my medication by responding to an alarm on her collar. And i really want her to be real service dog. i feel really stupid buying it from that company.

Sincerely,
Mikaela

Sihar

Hi Mikaela,
Please don’t feel stupid! This is an area that confuses everyone. Since you got the vest and other items, you should have no issues bringing your dog everywhere. No entity is allowed to ask you what your disability is. All they need to know that this is your service dog.

As per the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) a service animal is defined as: Any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified.
No organization,, unless the dog was specially trained as a service dog by them, should be stating that they can “certify” your dog. We don’t certify. We provide “identifiable registration”. Basically, items that will make it easier for public entities, such as restaurants, stores, etc., to recognize that your dog is providing a service as a “service dog”. We provide a service for those individuals that feel they might need this type of assistance.
We will provide you with a badge for your dog and the owner will become a volunteer advocate of our organization. Before, we can do this , we would need:
1. Copies of the papers of the dog,
2. A letter from a treating specialist, i.e., physician, mental health professional that the dog is needed and performs a service, that the individual is actually disabled, that the dog assists with the disability in some way, shape or form.
3. Picture ID, could be a license since we need proof of address
4. a valid email address and contact numbers
We will then certify the assistive quality of your dog.
The badge will be attached to the dog’s collar and the documentation can be carried by the owner. The owner becomes an advocate and also has a badge.The fee is considered a donation to our organization which only collects a fee on Social Security cases. We survive on contributions and donations. The fee would be tax deductible for you since it is a donation. The fee for the processing of the badges, the recognition that your dog provides a service and documentation of the disability is $250.00 a year.
Please let us know if you are interested.
Best,
Darren Dione Aquino, National Chief Advocate for Disabled

Amanda

I just have a question for whoever can answer it, i respond better by email directly. I just want some clarification because I am about to move into an apartment that will accept my dog, Roxis, but they told me that I should apply for her to be my companion dog so that people will feel safer around her. She is the sweetest dog on this planet, and I have everyone who has ever met her to back that up! But she is an American Pitbull Terrior/Lab Mix and so she is very muscular and quite intimidating when she barks, which is rarely ever… But the apartment requested me to get her some paperwork..

I was told that I could apply for Roxis to become my companion dog by applying online but I have yet to find an application for a companion dog. All I have found so far are service dog applications, which I know is a huge difference. I have gotten the run-around from veterinary offices, google and organizations that have applications for service dogs… I finally called an organization and she was less than helpful and told me that I was basically trying to falsify information by asking if I can make Roxis a companion dog. My question is… Does anyone know how to make Roxis my companion dog and if it is even a possibility? Also, she has been with me since she was 5 months old and I rescued her from a local animal shelter and she has been with me everyday since. I have gone through a divorce that was, to say the least difficult, and she was with me every step of the way. She helps me get through some pretty rough days and I honestly don’t know what I would do without her… I am not sure if that is sufficient enough explanation of why I want her with me in my new apartment but I know that these messages are visible to anyone so I don’t really want to be that open about it if it is even neccesary…

I have spent a few days researching this so I hope you can help me!

Oh! One last thing, if she is allowed to become a service dog, I am willing to put the time and effort for her to do so, but I think I read somewhere (in my various amounts of reading over the last few days) that if a dog has had surgery (for her knee, but I don’t think that matters, I think it was just any kind of surgery) they would not qualify to become a service dog… Is this true?

Sincerely,
Amanda

Thank you for your time!

Sihar

Hi Amanda,
we totally understand how you feel about your dog. You are right, she is really not a service dog so to speak since it seems that you are not disabled. Service dogs assist the individual with a disability. Your dog sounds as if he may be a therapy dog. Please take a look at our webpage titled service dog registration. There really is no place that can actually certify a dog as a service dog unless s/he has been trained as one. That particular organization can then confirm such. There are websites that send badges and so on but as per the DOJ, most sites cant really certify. If you have an emotional disability, I.e. PTSD, anxiety, etc. And it keeps you from functioning normally, you might be able to talk to your physician to see if s/he can provide documentation that you need your dog in order to function appropriately or normally. Please let us know if this is the case. We can most likely help then.

Amanda

Thank you for the reply, I do not have a mental or emotional disability, but I am just looking to see what my options are, and it seems that what I was suggested to do, is not feasible.. However, I appreciate the quick response! Thank you so much for you time!

Sincerely,
Amanda

Kassidy

Thank you so much! I just emailed you. I am going to the doctor tomorrow(Monday) to get the note. Once I have that, I will scan it and send it to you. I sent you his picture and the statement and I’ll send that note as soon as I get home.

Heather Murphy

Hi my dad is paranoid skitzo. He has 2 dogs before he was depressed he slept a lot when he got these dogs he got more energy he is alone and they keep him company he jystwd moved and his renters said he could have a dog for a 200 dollar pet fee when they found out they where big they told him no he offered more money and to put them in a outside kennel if he could keep them they are his best friends and he is heart broken he has 48hrs or he will be evicted.help him plz

Hannah

What a wonderful organization! I’m so appreciative of all that you do. Thank you!

I apologize if this information is easily found elsewhere on your site; I struggle with technology. I’d like to donate and send in my doctor’s letter stating that my need for my emotional support dog is legitimate, and receive a badge and other ‘official’ looking ‘verifications.’ I understand that there isn’t a way to officially certify an emotional support animal, but I’d like something that people can see right away so I’m not always answering a million questions and explaining why he isn’t wearing anything “official.” My Husky/German Short Hair Pointer, Atreyu, has saved my life more than once. I need this sweet boy around but am exhausted by the dirty looks and questions. He is a rescue, however. I found him nearly dead and helped him find health again. That being the case, I don’t have papers for him. He does see a vet, and has the legally required (or so I was told) rabies tag on his collar. Would his immunization records be considered ‘papers’ enough to send in to you along with his photo and my doctor’s letter? Also, do you sell vests with a badge? If not, have you heard of usdogregistry.org? They sell a kit for a decent price. Is there another vest manufacturer you’d recommend? Most people seem to think that’s what makes a dog ‘official.’

Thank you for your time! Much appreciated. LOVE seeing all these lovely people being helped by the wonderful gift that animals are. Thank you for helping us feel more confident out in public with our little heroes.

~Hannah

Amy

You say that “certification does not mean an individual dog is a service dog. Neither does registration or an official looking ID.” You also say “There is really no actually certification.” Yet you are offering certification. I do not understand what differentiates you from all the other sites offering IDs and vests!?

Sihar

We are a Nationally recognized non profit organization. We do not make a profit off of service dog registration. This is not our business. We provide a service. We do not charge for the service, only for the tags provided which we have made with our organization logo. That is the only fee. We follow DOJ guidelines and ensure that the individual requesting the registration is disabled and that the dog in question actually provides a service. We provide a variety of services for disabled, all ages, all disabilities without charge. Our only fee is for those cases that we provide social security disability assistance. Service dog requests are just another service, not a business for us.

Scooter P

Sihar

We are a Nationally recognized non profit organization. We do not make a profit off of service dog registration. Service dog registration is not a business for us. We provide a service. We do not charge for the service, only for the tags provided which we have made with our organization logo. That is the only fee. We follow DOJ guidelines and ensure that the individual requesting the registration is disabled and that the dog in question actually provides a service. We provide a variety of services for disabled, all ages, all disabilities without charge. Our only fee is for those cases that we provide social security disability assistance. Service dog requests are just another service, not a business for us.

I work for a doctor and we have rented here from the same landlord for 3 years at this building here in Longmont, Colorado. During these 3 years I have always had my “Service Dog” accompany me on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s ( the days we don’t have patients in the office) when we cannot budget other employees to “take care of me and my issues”. I have issues of anxiety, depression and mild PTSD that I have been working very hard on with my dog and therapist, especially this last year, to overcome. Recently, a new tenant moved into the suite next to our office, we share 2 adjoining walls, ever since April 1, 2014 this new tenant has made 2 or 3 complaints about my dogs barks or “Alerts” he has been trained to do. In addition to “Alerting” to disrupt my thought waves and patterns, if my anxiety levels are not as severe he has been trained to come up and paw or get in my face to break my pattern, it just depends on what is going on with me. I might add that we occupy a large part of this complex with a rent of about $1,600 and this new tenant is in a small $300 space just moving in here just before April 2014. We know all the other tenants in this building and have never had any problems at all until this new guy just moved in and apparently he does not like dogs or anyone in our office, he is a strange one as others in the building have told me. I did supply a copy of my dogs service dog registration to the owner of the building. Now that this man has complained twice in the last month…all of the sudden the owner of the building, who I might add is also a lawyer named Cotton Burden of Burden, Inc., is asking for certification from my dog’s vet as well as a letter from my doctor stating I need my dog here. Ever since this second complaint my stress, anxiety and PTSD levels have dramatically increased undoing all the last years hard work. Mr. Burden told me and my boss he went onto the website we got my dog’s vest, paperwork and badge from and he said “Pluto and Minnie Mouse could get certified as a service dog at the place we went to to get him registered at. When I got my service dog his stuff from United States Service Dogs, I did not know or think this company was NOT legitimate as Mr. Burden is insinuating. To try and resolve issues my boss is willing to take on this man’s suite and pay the rent for it if they will allow him to break the lease. My boss said he will use it as a storage room, that way they will not be stuck with an empty suite that is not making Mr. Burden money. Before they even think of letting this newcomer out of his lease they still want their 2 questions or requests fulfilled to them and that is the letter from my dog’s vet and letter from my doctor. We tried talking to Mr. Burden this last Friday after we finished with patients and he does not think my dog is legitimate and still wants a letter from my doctor as well as for the dog’s vet to certify “Mickie” as a service dog. We have quoted and read him ADA’s revised 2010 Standards but he is not buying or believing it. I felt somewhat intimidated by our conversation with him this last Friday and opened my big mouth asking if he would accept a letter from my therapist, he said he would and wanted it possibly by this next Tuesday. Now I have had a stressful weekend, I really don’t want them to know anything about me, my disability, who my therapist is and after reading the service animal guidelines and other Q&A’s I feel my rights are being violated by them wanting all this just because of one dog hating person in this building. I hope you can please help me or advise what I should do. Please help us resolve this matter to a non-believer.

So that you may see the whole picture…Below I have cut and paste all email conversations taking place between us and Mr. Burden’s son-in-law our building manager, Joe Perotta, regarding our service dog issue. Again, we have never had any problems the last 3 years until now.

Now here is the email I was talking about that I cut and paste>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ronda,
Thank you for the response. I am not requesting specific information as to the nature of why the service dog is needed but that the service dog has been requested/prescribed by your physician. In addition, the dog’s veterinarian would be able to qualify the dog as a ‘service dog’. I would assume that you would have this documentation readily available. Cotton looks forward to hearing back from you on Tuesday May 6, 2014.

On Fri, May 2, 2014 at 2:16 PM, wrote:
Dear Joe,
We have a very busy afternoon and don’t have time to deal with this now as I’m sure you don’t either. According to American’s with Disabilies Act of 1990, my service dog and I have rights that are violated by the questions asked by the owner. We have patients all day Monday so the soonest I can sit down and address these concerns is on Tuesday when we have no patients.
Sincerely, Ronda J. Borrego

On Fri, May 2, 2014 at 1:03 PM, wrote:
Joe,
Following is my response to the owner’s inquiry
:
In accordance with the American’s with Disability Act (ADA) of 1990 businesses may ask:
1. Is this a service animal?
ANSWER: Yes, my dog is a service animal.
2. What tasks does the animal perform?
ANSWER: The task he is trained to perform is “Alert” Ronda J. Borrego, a person with a disability.

In accordance with the American’s with Disability Act (ADA) of 1990 businesses may NOT ask about the person’s disability.

On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 5:33 PM, wrote:
Joe,
Thank you. In case you get another “complaint” or report I need to let you know or report that my service dog “Alerted” twice today with “One” bark each instance at 2:15pm and again at 2:55pm today. I am letting you know this a a courtesy as we wish to cause no problems. We never wished to cause any problems in the first place. I apologize for taking your time with this but thank you in advance.

Thank you Ronda for forwarding this to me. I need to speak with the complaining party as well as the owner of the building in order to see what he recommends and I will contact you (and Dr. Robinson) directly to provide an update.

On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 11:43 AM, wrote:
Joe,
Dr. Robinson and I would like to discuss this “Dog Complaint” issue this afternoon or whenever Dr. Robinson gets into the office later today. First of all my “Service Dog” is not here at the office every day, he is only here on Tuesday and Thursday, the two days I do not have trained staff here in the office with me who can take care of me. My “Service Dog” does NOT bark continuously throughout the day, ever. My “Service Dog” is trained to”Alert” me by a bark or two depending on my situation.

Your email stated for me to address this as soon as possible so I did try and take matters in my own hands and address this issue with all other Tenants renting here at 500 Coffman Street, I went around to all Tenants Suites and apologized to all of them for any disruption that my “Service Dog” Mickey may have caused on Tuesday April 29, 2014 ( I believe this is the so called second complaint day you are talking about) while performing his duty that he was trained for. I am very aware that he “Alerted” me twice and only twice on Tuesday April 29, 2014, once at 1:15pm and one other time at approximately 4:00pm (late afternoon) and I apologized for any disruptions that day. Everyone I spoke with said there were no disruptions to their businesses and they said they had no issues or complaints about my “Service Dog”. Everyone I spoke with said they did not hear him this last Tuesday, they also said you may speak to any of them regarding any “so called disruption” including Tina Zalesky in Suite 110 who was here all day including through the lunch hour, Green Point Roofing and staff in Suite 107 located directly across from our Suite 109, they all said you may inquire with them since they are in such close range to our suite.

In my attempt to address this situation, the only issue I had was when I was rudely told to “GET OUT!” as I was dismissed by the Tenant in Suite 103, who shares two common walls with our suite. He would not even allow me to explain what my “Service Dog” is trained to do and that is “Alert”. I saw him in the hall while I was going around to all the other and asked him if I could speak with him so we went into his Suite, when I started to apologize and explain what my “Service Dog” is trained to do he rudely interrupted me and said” That is between you and the owners of the building, now get out!”. I asked him to please just hear me out that I did not want to cause problems and he opened his door and just started motioning for me to leave while yelling for me to “Please leave…. please leave!!!”. I have never been so insulted while trying to resolve an issue. I found his behavior unacceptable and very rude, nobody has ever treated me this way while trying to find a resolution to a problem at hand.

Joe we have been here quite awhile, 3 years, and have never had any issues or problems with any other Tenants in this building before the new Tenant moved into Suite 103. We have reached out to all and when we have new ones come in we take them donuts, that we also bring in for our patients every Friday, to welcome them. When my mother offered donuts to Suite 103 upon his arrival, he refused. After my attempt to resolve this so called “Dog Complaint” issue by apologizing to all and explaining the situation, it appears that the complaints may be coming from an isolated Tenant in Suite 103 and he will continue to complain to you since our suites share two common walls. Also one of my ringtones is a “barking dog” I keep my purse and phone in the room next to Suite 103, could this be another source of the “barking” he heard? I have my phone volume on loud all the time.

We will call and see if you are available as soon as Dr. Robinson gets into the office.

Ronda,
Good afternoon. I just received another complaint about the dog barking in your suite. Please address as soon as possible. This is the second complaint. It is not fair to the other Tenants in the building to have to deal with this type of disruption. I hope not to have to field any further complaints.

On Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 11:31 AM, Joseph Perrotto wrote:
Ronda and Dr. Robinson,
I just received an additional complaint regarding a dog in your office from another Tenant. The building does not allow dogs at any time (week days nor weekends) and only Service Dogs are allowed per your Lease Agreement. Please remove the dog from your suite immediately or you will be in default of your Lease Agreement.

Sihar

Dear Ronda,
So, so sorry for such a late reply. We were not able to see our posts and had to have our site reconfigured. We were just now able to see your comments. It is terrible that you are going through this trouble! You have a documented and legitimate disability documented by your doctor and therapist. Your dig has been trained as a service dog. All the landlord is allowed to request from you is a physician note stating that you have a disability, he cannot ask you anything about your disability, no specifics. If he gets a letter from your physician or your therapist, that should suffice. As for your dog, as long as the gets a letter from your vet or from the establishment where your dog was trained, and the documentation states that your dog is a service dog, that is appropriate. Please let us know if the situation has been resolved.

Mari Ann

I suffer from severe bipolar disorder, PTSD stemming from childhood trauma, panic and anxiety attacks and severe social phobias. My doctor suggested I have my dog, Bella certified to be an emotional support animal because she calms me and senses when I’m panicked and nuzzles me and calms me down. I ordered a kit off of usdogregistry.org and my doctor provided a note stating that he was prescribing the dog for me. I receive Social Security Disability for my mental illnesses and rarely leave my house unless accompanied by my husband or my 17 year old daughter. So, is the “certification”, Bella’s vest, handler’s ID card not real? I took her to walmart with me and was able to last 34 minutes alone because she is so small, I can carry her and when I got upset or panicked, I would just pet her and focus on her. No one in the store asked any questions and just commented on how cute my “little bodyguard” was and went about their business. Now, I’m being told that the only thing she can actually do is accompany me on a plane and live in housing with me even if they say there are no pets allowed. I really need to have her with me or I’m going to be a house ridden recluse all over again, like I’ve been since 1999. Please help me! I am in tears as I write this because this past week, being able to take her places with me made such a huge difference and I did not know it wasn’t even allowed because she is “only” an Emotional Support Dog.

Sihar

if you have tags or a vest for your dog and a documented disability, no one can challenge your disability, ask you what the disability is, why you have the dog. etc. You should be able to take your dog with you when you go out. Would your doctor be willing to document your need for a service dog? As per the DOJ, the dog has to perform a function for the owner, a needed function. The DOJ has not yet recognized service dogs for emotional support. They believe that service dogs should provide specific functions,i.e., for the blind and visually impaired, hearing impaired, physical or medical disorders…With the increase of PTSD due to our veterans coming home from war, we do hope and believe that the DOJ will recognize the need for service dogs that assist with emotional disability.

Phil

Is it true you people charge $250 per year for your “service”? I’m a disabled man on a fixed income and $250 is more than a quarter of my monthly income; to expect or ask genuinely disabled people to pay this amount is nothing short of robbery of the most helpless. First you start by dismissing all other organizations (.orgs, mind you) as charlatans and thieves, and then you turn around ask more than anybody else (and more every year). I’ve survived a terminal illness for 30 years and and lost my home and career as a result of it; I can’t afford to pay some scammers out to make a buck off of my misfortune.
The first indicator you folks aren’t on the level is your web address: http://www.adaadvocates.com. If you were trying to help people it would be a .org or even a .net, not a .com………, .com is reserved for commercial enterprises, which is clearly what you are.

Sihar

I’m sorry that you believe we are scammers, we are far from that Phil. We are a very unique organization in that all our members are disabled and fully understand the challenges faced by the disabled community. The $250 you mention is a membership fee. This is for a person that supports our cause, defending and advocating for the disabled. We do not charge for our services. The only instances where we charge are those cases in which we assist with social security disability. That charge is a recognized and confirmed charge by the social security administration. The $ 250, for a member, gives them tags for themselves and a service dog, admission to conferences and our services, which includes advocating for disability related issues. We are a non profit which consists of friends, family members and colleagues, all passionate about the well being of disabled.

Regina Card

I have gotten a letter from my psychiatrist stating the dog I have will be good for me as an emotional support dog. What else do I need to be legal with the public transportation like the bus and trolley .
I have heard a read a lot of information and heard about a lot of places that are scams. I need to know where I need to go. I have bipolar, high anxiety and other mental problems I rather not discuss. She helps keep me calm in a lot of certain situations. She has had no formal training. Could Gould you please get back to me about this. I am not sure all what else I need to give you but I think this is a start.

Sihar

Hi Regina,
You’re right that there are quite a few sites out there that charge for registering or certifying a dog, when there really is no true site for such certification. The Department of Justice states that the owner of a service dog should have a documented disability and that the dog should provide a service/assistance related to that disability. We provide a tag for the owner and one for the dog. We would need a copy of the letter from you physician stating that you would benefit from a service dog, we would also need to know what type of service your dog would be providing. We do not charge for the service, just for the tags.

Manny Vega

I am looking for some clarification, I am a United States Marine Corps Veteran diagnosed with PTSD, receiving benefits and services from the VA because of it. I was also injured on the job as a police officer and was forced into a medical retirement, you can say I given my all.

Currently I own a small struggling business and are trying to make ends meet. It’s rough being a small business owner in today’s world but I am trying to provide for my family and employees. Two years ago I found and rescued two pit bull/ terrier mix pups. They had been abandoned in a shopping car and were near death.

For the past two years they have come to my place of business and keep me company. As I stated life has been a bit rough and there are days when I close my office door and lay down with my two pups and forget about my problems. My pups make a huge difference in my hectic world. My building lease is do for renewal and the landlord wants me out. He has made several changes in the lease agreement, raised the rent, increased the security deposit and has also amended the lease to state ” there will be no pets allowed on the premises or center unless they are seeing eye or service dogs” .

How do I get my two dogs qualified or registered as services dogs as soon as possible. Also what is the cost? and do I have to provide him with and explanation of my PTSD and why I have the dogs with me?

Thank you for your time.

Sihar

Dear MANNY,
Thank you for your service to country. It would be my pleasure to help you as my service back to you. can you send me the docs stating that you have PTSD. the landlord absolutely does not have to know that you have PTSD, only a judge in camera has the right to know. I will help you in whatever why I CAN. we will get your dogs certified. I apologize for my late reply. I have had problems with my mailbox. I am also campaigning here in NASSAU county, NEW YORK for CONGRESS. where are you located? My number is 929-245-1151.
God Bless You and the United States of America
Darren Dione Aquino, National Chief Advocate for Disabled

Danny Giles

I am at 100% service connected disabled veteran. I have a Shih Tzu as my PTSD service dog; complete with the letter from my VA Dr. Now the DA police are trying to force us veterans to register our service dogs with the phony registration and certification entities. I do not want to waste my money on these services!does your organization have a function similar to those phony registration places, only for real? I would trust you guys with my money before giving into any of the only places that take advantage of disabled people by trying to make them feel like their dogs are really registered. It is my belief that too many people use those venues to register dogs that don’t even know how to use it when you tell them to much less help someone who is disabled.please let me know if you can help me register my dog for real. Thank you and God bless america!

Sihar

Hi Danny. First and foremost, thank you for your service. You are absolutely right when you state that there are phony sites, and you shouldn’t have to register your dog with any site. You have documentation from your VA doctor so what is it that the police want? Do they want to see tags or a vest for the dog? I’m assuming that this is what they want since it makes the dog look more legitimate. We don’t provide tags. We can add to your Dr .’s letter, and I’m not sure if that will help you. What we have done in the past is verify or re verify the validity of the owners disability and the need for the service dog. We then can get a service vest for the dog with
our logo . We would need your information, your dog’s info , the VA docs note. We would have to charge the fee for the vest and logo.

Carrol Hunihan

What can I do to validate my dog as an ESA animal if I cannot afford the Psychiatric evaluation for myself? I lost my fiancee to cancer three years ago and two and a half years ago I came across a man getting ready to enclose his puppie into his trunk. After asking him if he was for real, his reply was “why, do you want him?” I couldn’t afford a dog, and really had no place to keep him, I was living with a 94 year old man and his 87 year old partner who needed help caring for him, but I couldn’t stand the fact that the man was going to harm this puppie, (I later found out the man had planned on taking the puppie up to Guadelupe Canyon to leave him for the wolves and foxes to kill him) so I took him. I found that my puppie, I named him Dogee, began pulling me out of a depression from the loss of my fiancee and reminded me how to laugh again. He sits with me when I am sad, laps up my tears if I cry, and will do silly things, like bring me his toys to make me play with him, or distract me from my saddness. I don’t want to be without him because when I am, I find myself depressed again, so I want to legitimately regiister him, please can you help me.

Sihar

Hi Carrol,
so sorry for your loss…in order for your dog to be able to be a service dog, you have to have a documented disability. I know Psychiatric evals are expensive, but without a documented disability, the need for your dog cant be documented. is there anyway that you can get a diagnosis and a statement from the physician stating that you need a service dog?

Cassandra

Sihar

HiCassandra,
I’m assuming that you haven’t seen our blog regarding Service dog registration. We do not charge a fee for the service companion registration. this is not our line of business as other organizations or sites. Our fee is for membership to an advocacy organization for disabled. These dues support our organization cassandra. We advocate and protect the rights of disabled. As an extra service, as long as the individual requesting assistance with service dog registration has a documented disability and the dog has been trained as a service dog, we provide tags. all the individual pays for is the processing or should I say, the creation of the tags tht have our log. No one has to become a member. We have members and volunteers all over the country, but as I mentioned earlier, service dog registration is not a business for us and never will be. we assist those that need the assistance.

Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs?
I have a blog based upon on the same information you discuss
and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would enjoy your work.

Patrice Jones

Hello. I do have a physical disability. But, my dogs doesn’t help with that… She is however my emotional support strength. I will be moving soon and need to keep her with me. Most apartments I’ve been to need her to be a companion pet. How do I go about this the right way??? I receive SSDI and not much else. Are there anyprograms that will help with training her???

Sihar

HI,
Would your physician be willing to write a lteer stating that you ahve a diagnosed condition, a physical disability and that you need your dog for emotiional support? That would help a great deal. If you are seeing a counselor/therapist, if they could write something as well. YOu can also call the Dept of Justice and they may be able to assist you in finding organiozations that would help train your dog. However, if you have a diagnosed condition and need ytour dog as a companion pet, the letters from your doctos or therapists should hopefully suffice. It also all depends on the state/city and area you live in. Some areas are more “disability conscious” and are more aware of the needs of disabled.
Best!

Angela

I’m a disabled vet with a head injury and ptsd. I have a dog I’m training for mobility assistance I have bad balance from the head injury. My doc doesn’t want to write a letter to the landlord because of liability issues. I asked about a prescription for one, he’s not sure. We are out of the house by Dec 3,almost everything we look at is no pets, where’s the doctors note. My family and I are homeless in 9 days. Any suggestions? Angela

Sihar

Angela,
So sorry for the late reply. We had 2 deaths in the family my mom and my mother in law. It has been a very rough couple of months. Please call our National chief directly and it will be his honor and pleasure to serve you in any way that he can. We can provide you with tags for your dog. Please also look up the DOJ website re service dogs that have updated their website and I will also post it in our website as well. His number is 929-245-1151.

Sarah

I don’t have a physical disability but an emotional one i am severely depressed and just gone through an ordeal that has made it a hundred times worse my dog helps me everyday to not want to cut she gives me a reason to smile again and actually trust the world. I was getting better and tried to go to school for a semester without her but I ended up getting raped by a date rape drug and I’m not the same again and I won’t she ismy protector she knows when my anxiety is going crazy and distracts me she knows me and has become apart of me I can’t be without her and still function I have talked to my doctor and he said to go to one of the websites and pay but I came across yours please help me get her to stay with me my doctor said if he has to he will prescribe her to me she officially starts training on the 28th but what else do I need to do?

Sihar

We are so sorry for all that you have been through. If your doctor could prescribe the dog we can supply tags. Your doctor does not have to mention your disability, just that you need the dog as a service companion. You can reach our national chief at 929-245-1151,

Lorelei East

Hi, I suffer from anxiety, depression, bi-polar disorder, seperation anxiety and many other mental illnesses. Im currently living with some friends who are telling me that I have till tomorrow to get rid of my emotional support animal. I have a prescription from my doctor stating that he recommends that I be allowed to have my less than ten pound dog as an emotional support animal. What can I do? I am completly devastated. Thanks

Sihar

Hi Amanda,
Our apologies for the late reply. In order to have your dog with you all the time, you would need to have a physician’s letter stating that you have a disability and that your dog assists you with the disability. Your dog would have to perform specfic functions in assisting you. What we do is register the dogs, or I should say companions according to the handler/owner’s disability. If the owner handler has a qualified disability under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the companions are trained to assist the disabled owner with his or her disability, we can assist. The service companion must perform a very needed function. There really is no credible site for registration, unless the service dog was specifically trained at a certain facility. In most cases, they are not, but, if the handler has trained them to perform needed functions due to his or her disability, the dogs should be recognized as service companions. We are a national non and do not charge for our advocacy services, we exist via donations, grants and minimal fees for processing. we would need the description of your dog, the vaccinations certificate, letters from physicians stating that there is indeed a disability and that due to the disability, your dog is needed to be with you all the time, as well as a copy of your picture ID. Please also describe in detail how the dogs assist you with your disability, I read your email and you did give some information, however, we must know that your dog is providing a specific and constant function to assist with the disability.We will then be able to write a little stating that your dog is a service companion, and needs to be with you all the time. As per the DOJ, no one should ask you why you have service animals or what your disability is, they must respect your rights under the DOJ and the ADA. As mentioned earlier, once we receive all the documentation needed, we will provide you with a letter stating that your dog is a service companion, the registration number of the letter will be the last four digits of your social security number. We will also provide clip on tags. We do have a minimal fee for processing for the letter and clip on tags which is $ 50.00. We woudl need a check payable to Advocates for Disabled Americans, Veterans, Police, Firemen & Families.

Kelli Radford

Hello,
My name is Kelli Radford and laSt October I had a dachshund mix for 3 years and I took her to the vet where they gave her a combo vaccination and she had a reaction to it that caused her seizures, which ultimately severely brain damaged her, and lastly killed her. After her death I was devestated. I lived alone ina new city with no family around for hours, I cried every night for how lonely I was. I performed worse at work and my high school students noticed it. After 3 months I aquired a corgi, he is sweet, kind, cuddly, and loveable to everyone. I have gone to doctors for proof that he needs to be an emotional support service animal and their solution is to just put me on medication. I don’t need nor want medication. I really just want him to be certified but doctors are refusing to certify him. What can I do? I need some help. My apartment is threatening to kick me out or to get rid of my trained, seeet, quiet baby boy. Please help.

Sihar

Hi Kelli,
So sorry for the troubles that youare going through. We don’t actually certify the dog. There really are no known legitimate sites that register or certify service companions. What we do as a national disabilities organization is verify your disability and then confirm that your your service companion provides an absolute need for you due to your disability. There are organizations that actually train service dogs, they I believe are the only legitimate sources of certification aside from us.
In order for us to be able to assist you, you would have to have your physician document that you have a need to have your dog/companion with you at all times. We would need all of dog’s vaccination history, DOB, where he was purchased. Once it can be determined that your dog is an absolute need, we can certify that need and he will be able to be your service companion. As an advocacy organization, we do not charge for our services, we exist through contributions. We only charge a processing fee for the certification and tag. Our cost is $50.00. Please let us know if you will be able to get the documentation needed.
take care

Sihar

Our apologies for the late reply. In order to have your dog with you all the time, you would need to have a physician’s letter stating that you have a disability and that your dog assists you with the disability. Your dog would have to perform specfic functions in assisting you. What we do is register the dogs, or I should say companions according to the handler/owner’s disability. If the owner handler has a qualified disability under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the companions are trained to assist the disabled owner with his or her disability, we can assist. The service companion must perform a very needed function. There really is no credible site for registration, unless the service dog was specifically trained at a certain facility. In most cases, they are not, but, if the handler has trained them to perform needed functions due to his or her disability, the dogs should be recognized as service companions. We are a national non profit and do not charge for our advocacy services, we exist via donations, grants and minimal fees for processing. we would need the description of your dog, the vaccinations certificate, letters from physicians stating that there is indeed a disability and that due to the disability, your dog is needed to be with you all the time, as well as a copy of your picture ID. Please also describe in detail how the dogs assist you with your disability, I read your email and you did give some information, however, we must know that your dog is providing a specific and constant function to assist with the disability.We will then be able to write a little stating that your dog is a service companion, and needs to be with you all the time. As per the DOJ, no one should ask you why you have service animals or what your disability is, they must respect your rights under the DOJ and the ADA. As mentioned earlier, once we receive all the documentation needed, we will provide you with a letter stating that your dog is a service companion, the registration number of the letter will be the last four digits of your social security number. We will also provide clip on tags. We do have a minimal fee for processing for the letter and clip on tags which is $ 50.00. Hope we can help….

Sihar

Dear Sherry,
I’m not sure if you read our email correctly. I’m assuming that you read our email to a specific client that had 2 dogs and other issues. We only charge a processing fee for the letter of certification, which is actually for the handler/owner. We do not charge $250 for Dog tags. As you state in your correspondence, dog registration is not needed by law. We certify the disability of the individual through documentation with documentation from the owner’s doctors. The letter would allow the owner to travel with their dog and ensures accessibility for the dog. As I’m sure you are aware, although the DOJ has strict guidelines stating that public entities must grant access to a service dog and the handler, the law is not adhered to by many. The tags and letter are proof of the fact that the handler needs his/her service dog.
Sherry, we do not charge anything for disabled veterans and thsoe that cannot afford the $50. But, please understand, that we are also financially constrained and cannot process all our requests without some sort of processing fee that we have to pay for the clerical assistance and processing of the tags.
Best…

Sihar

HI kassidy,
I’m so sorry to hear about your troubles. Have no fear kassidy. Help is on the way. Your story has touched us here at ADA, and it falls in line with your rights as a disabled person as far as I can see. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act( ADA) a person with a qualifying disability has the right to have a service dog.
We need several things from you, We need a doctor’s note that the statement you gave us is true, that you do have panic attacks, etc. We need you to sign the statement above, and a sworn and signed statement that Steele never bit or hurt anyone.

After we receive those documents, we will supply you with a letter stating that your dog should be with you where ever you go. We will enforce those privileges for you wherever you go. We usually have to charge for this, but, since you are a student, we would like this to be our Christmas present to you. School is important and we admire that you are trying to finish amdist all your troubles. Kudos to you Kassidy! We also need a picture of your dog so that we can make him a tag. Just so you are aware, there is no organization that can certify dogs. You are right, many are scams. What we do is confirm that you need your dog, that you are a disabled individual and that without your dog, you cannot function appropriately.

Kassidy, I am disabled, and I too have scoliosis and I am proud to assist a teen that is trying to complete school and move on with their lives. You can scan and email me all the information at adaadvocates@yahoo.com or you can fax them to 516-481-0954. Please let me know when you will be sending them.
Merry Christmas!
Darren Aquino, National Chief Advocate for Disabled

Kassidy

Thank you so much! I am so happy right now! What statement do I sign about him not biting? And I will talk to my mother about getting the letter from our family doctor. What happens if I got “carded” or they tell me to leave? And what about housing, do I just show them his tag? And also do I have to get him a vest? If so, what should I get him? I’m afraid to buy a knock off vest from a scam if he needs one. I think I’d be more comfortable with him having one so when people see me in class or on campus, they won’t wonder why I have him or tell me I need to leave. Another question, what do I do when someone has allergies? I’m not sure if I put it in my previous note but I have severe allergies but I don’t get sick with him and neither does my (always seeming to get sick) mother. I know allergies are a problem but I have problems too and I don’t want to have to leave him home and suffer because of some sniffles, you know? And a question from my mother, if there is a tornado(which we have a lot of) and I have to go to the shelter on campus, they can’t kick me out can they?
And should he have a muzzle? Not a crazy one like in the movies, but like a simple one where he can open his mouth to pant but not to mouth things? Our student union is very busy and I don’t want him to become over whelmed with people petting him, because wherever we go people crowd around him to pet him. And I don’t want people who are afraid of dogs to be afraid of me or him. And what do I do if property owners deny me the right to live in their complex or house because I have him? If you have any advice about being a new service dog person, I’d sure appreciate it because I am so lost on what to do and avoiding scams, like the vests!

I’m sorry I have so many questions..! I’m very thankful for your help! I’ll get on those documents as soon as I can! I have the perfect picture of him ready and I can sign your statement about his biting.

-Kassidy

Sihar

Hi kassidy
once your dog has his tag and you have a letter from is confirming your disability, you cannot be thrown out of anywhere with your dog. it is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities act and the department of justice. You should not get him a muzzle since he is a companion/ service dog. I think that will intimidate the people around you. you. No one can ask you about your disability and why you have a service dog either.
You can compose a note for us stating that Steele has never acted aggressively and that he has never bitten anyone. A sworn statement by you. You can get a vest . We know someone that does makes vests. Her website is dogcollarfancy. Im not sure if she is still doing this but try her website. She is amazing. Her name is Dawn. Im not sure how much she charges either. I believe she might still have our logo. When you speak to her please tell her that sheila and darren from Advocates for Disabled Americans, Veterans, Police, Firemen & families in NY referred you. If she is no longer making vests then you can purchase a simple one from a website. Please get a picture of your dog to us so that we can have it on his tag. So, doctor’s note, sworn statement, pic of Steele…

Sihar

Thanks Kassidy. It is a pleasure to help you. However, the letter stating that your dog never bit anyone is not comprehensive enough. We will send you a letter, and all you will have to do is sign it. You may tell your school, that Steele’s approval is pending our registration. Can you send us a clearer pic of Steele, it is not clear enough for us to make him a tag. We also need a copy of his papers and license.
thanks. We will be sending you to the letter that you need to sign to the email you provided.

Sihar

Hi Megan,
Thanks so much for reaching out to us. A companion for your son would be wonderful! To get a dog registered you would need to get the registration/training papers from the training establishment. they may be able to get you tags also. They should train your dog and son together since your son will be the handler. The functions of Service dogs and therapy dogs are different. A therapy dog is usually assigned to an individual that may need emotional support, i.e., PTSD, agoraphobia and other conditions, a service dog is assigned to an individual with a diagnosed condition/disability recognized by the Department of Justice, DOJ, and the service dog performs functions that the disabled individual cannot perform due to his/her disability. If you need information about training schools for dogs or trainers, you can try Autism Speaks for resources. If you live in New York, I know someone very good, Divine K-9. Please know that if your dog is trained and certified, he can accompany your son everywhere. No one can ask why or what the disability involved is. Your son is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act , the ADA. You can always call them for extra needed information and assistance as well.
I hope that the information is helpful and good luck finding a puppy for your son! Dogs are wonderfully therapeutic and definitley man’s best friend…

Sihar

Sihar

Madison,
Sorry for the late reply, we had 2 deaths in our family and it has been a rough couple of months. We can provide tags for your dog. Please also go to the DOJ website, they have updated their information regarding service dogs.

Sihar

Hi Tiffany,
So sorry for the late reply. Your daughter is protected under the ADA. If you could get a letter from your physician and therapist and register her dog as a service pet, then no one should bother you about your dog. Once your dog is considered a therapy animal, no one should ask you why you have her, what type of disability your daughter has ( you are again protected by the ADA and HIPAA) I hope this helps…

Sihar

HI Jennifer,
Can you get any supporting documentation about your condition from your PCP and therapist? This would greatly help.I’m going to post information on our blog about service pet registration. We have an overwhelming amount of inquiries and we don’t want to steer anyone in the wrong direction. Please go to our blog….

Sihar

We would be happy to help, please call our national chief, Darren Aquino at 929-245-1151. We are trying not to discuss your disability on the blog in order to maintain your privacy. you can also email us at darrendione@gmail.com. We will need several documents from you which we will discuss when you call or email.
thank you

Sihar

Please call us Raven. We have been inundated with calls re: service dogs. We are the only national organization certifying the medical condition which enables the dog to be your service dog with proof and documentation from you. you can reach us at 929-245-1151 or darrendione@gmail.com.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

Sihar

Dear Deborah,
So very sorry for the late reply. we have been inundated with calls re” service dogs”. Please call Darren Aquino, the national chief, at 929-245-1151 or email him at darrendione@gmai.com. Looking forward to hearing from you…
thank you

Sihar

Dear Liberty,
Our apologies for the late reply. YOur dogs do not need to be tested since as per the last Department of Justice (DOJ) revisions, an owner/handler can train their own service companion. Are you going to flying with 2 dogs then? What we do is register the dogs, or I should say companions according to the handler/owner’s disability. If the owner handler has a qualified disability under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the companions are trained to assist the disabled owner with his or her disability, we can assist. The service companion must perform a very needed function, which in your case, your companions are doing. There really is no credible site for registration, unless the service dog was specifically trained at a certain facility. In most cases, they are not, but, if the handler has trained them to perform needed functions due to his or her disability, the dogs should be recognized as service companions. We are a national non and do not charge for our advocacy services, we exist via donations, grants and minimal fees for processing. we would need the descriptions of your dogs, their vaccinations certificates, letters from physicians stating that there is indeed a disability and that due to the disability, the dogs are needed to be with you all the time, as well as copies of picture IDs for you and your husband. Please also describe in detail how the dogs assist you with your disability, I read your email and you did give some information, however, we must know that your dogs are providing specific and constant function to assist with the disability.We will then be able to write a little stating that the dogs are service companions, are needed to be with you all the time. As per the DOJ, no one should ask you why you have service animals or what your disability is, they must respect your rights under the DOJ and the ADA. As mentioned earlier, once we receive all the documentation needed, we will provide you with a letter stating that your dog is a service companion, the registration number of the letter will be the last four digits of your social security number. We will also provide clip on tags. We do have a minimal fee for processing for the letter and clip on tags which is $ 50.00 per dog. We woudl need a check payable to Advocates for Disabled Americans, Veterans, Police, Firemen and Families. Please let us know if you need our services. Best, Sheila

Sihar

Our apologies for the late reply. In order to have your dog with you all the time, you would need to have a physician’s letter stating that you have a disability and that your dog assists you with the disability. Your dog would have to perform specfic functions in assisting you. What we do is register the dogs, or I should say companions according to the handler/owner’s disability. If the owner handler has a qualified disability under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the companions are trained to assist the disabled owner with his or her disability, we can assist. The service companion must perform a very needed function. There really is no credible site for registration, unless the service dog was specifically trained at a certain facility. In most cases, they are not, but, if the handler has trained them to perform needed functions due to his or her disability, the dogs should be recognized as service companions. We are a national non and do not charge for our advocacy services, we exist via donations, grants and minimal fees for processing. we would need the description of your dog, the vaccinations certificate, letters from physicians stating that there is indeed a disability and that due to the disability, your dog is needed to be with you all the time, as well as a copy of your picture ID. Please also describe in detail how the dogs assist you with your disability, I read your email and you did give some information, however, we must know that your dog is providing a specific and constant function to assist with the disability.We will then be able to write a little stating that your dog is a service companion, and needs to be with you all the time. As per the DOJ, no one should ask you why you have service animals or what your disability is, they must respect your rights under the DOJ and the ADA. As mentioned earlier, once we receive all the documentation needed, we will provide you with a letter stating that your dog is a service companion, the registration number of the letter will be the last four digits of your social security number. We will also provide clip on tags. We do have a minimal fee for processing for the letter and clip on tags which is $ 50.00. Hope we can assist!

Sihar

Our apologies for the late reply. In order to have your dog with you all the time, you would need to have a physician’s letter stating that you have a disability and that your dog assists you with the disability. Your dog would have to perform specfic functions in assisting you. What we do is register the dogs, or I should say companions according to the handler/owner’s disability. If the owner handler has a qualified disability under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the companions are trained to assist the disabled owner with his or her disability, we can assist. The service companion must perform a very needed function. There really is no credible site for registration, unless the service dog was specifically trained at a certain facility. In most cases, they are not, but, if the handler has trained them to perform needed functions due to his or her disability, the dogs should be recognized as service companions. We are a national non and do not charge for our advocacy services, we exist via donations, grants and minimal fees for processing. we would need the description of your dog, the vaccinations certificate, letters from physicians stating that there is indeed a disability and that due to the disability, your dog is needed to be with you all the time, as well as a copy of your picture ID. Please also describe in detail how the dogs assist you with your disability, I read your email and you did give some information, however, we must know that your dog is providing a specific and constant function to assist with the disability.We will then be able to write a little stating that your dog is a service companion, and needs to be with you all the time. As per the DOJ, no one should ask you why you have service animals or what your disability is, they must respect your rights under the DOJ and the ADA. As mentioned earlier, once we receive all the documentation needed, we will provide you with a letter stating that your dog is a service companion, the registration number of the letter will be the last four digits of your social security number. We will also provide clip on tags. We do have a minimal fee for processing for the letter and clip on tags which is $ 50.00. Hoping we can assist

Sihar

Our apologies for the late reply. In order to have your dog with you all the time, you would need to have a physician’s letter stating that you have a disability and that your dog assists you with the disability. Your dog would have to perform specfic functions in assisting you. What we do is register the dogs, or I should say companions according to the handler/owner’s disability. If the owner handler has a qualified disability under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the companions are trained to assist the disabled owner with his or her disability, we can assist. The service companion must perform a very needed function. There really is no credible site for registration, unless the service dog was specifically trained at a certain facility. In most cases, they are not, but, if the handler has trained them to perform needed functions due to his or her disability, the dogs should be recognized as service companions. We are a national non and do not charge for our advocacy services, we exist via donations, grants and minimal fees for processing. we would need the description of your dog, the vaccinations certificate, letters from physicians stating that there is indeed a disability and that due to the disability, your dog is needed to be with you all the time, as well as a copy of your picture ID. Please also describe in detail how the dogs assist you with your disability, I read your email and you did give some information, however, we must know that your dog is providing a specific and constant function to assist with the disability.We will then be able to write a little stating that your dog is a service companion, and needs to be with you all the time. As per the DOJ, no one should ask you why you have service animals or what your disability is, they must respect your rights under the DOJ and the ADA. As mentioned earlier, once we receive all the documentation needed, we will provide you with a letter stating that your dog is a service companion, the registration number of the letter will be the last four digits of your social security number. We will also provide clip on tags. We do have a minimal fee for processing for the letter and clip on tags which is $ 50.00.